New tobacco products: Protecting young people from tobacco industry tactics

The tobacco industry is targeting your kids—right in your own backyard.

The tobacco industry knows that to stay in business, they need to hook young people. The tobacco industry is always changing its tactics to get around new laws and regulations that are passed to restrict tobacco’s influence on young people. Designing new tobacco products—like candy-flavored dissolvable tobacco—is the latest in the industry’s bag of tricks.

Young people who are hooked now face a lifetime of addiction. Nearly all adult smokers started before they were 18. Because their bodies and brains are still developing, young people are especially vulnerable to nicotine addiction. The younger they start, the more likely they are to become a lifetime smoker.

Tobacco use is a gateway to other drugs. For teenagers, using tobacco is an entry point to other high-risk behaviors. Young people who smoke are 4 times more likely to use alcohol. They are 26 times more likely to use cocaine.

Fight the tobacco industry’s impact on young people. Here’s what you can do:

• Talk to your kids about tobacco, especially new tobacco products. Do their friends use tobacco? What new products have they seen?  For information about starting the conversation, click here.


• Find out what’s in your neighborhood. What’s the tobacco industry up to your community? Let us know by completing the postcard survey of a store in your community.


• Stay informed.  Learn the basics about new tobacco products--find out what's out there.  Sign up for email alerts about new tobacco products and ways to combat tobacco industry tactics (write "email alerts on new tobacco products" in the message part of the email).
• Spread the word.  Many people think that the tobacco problem is solved. It’s not. Every year, more than 7,000 children in Massachusetts become daily smokers. They will go on to battle that addiction throughout their adult lives.  Download a flyer to share with your friends.